International Aid Providers Join Hands To Stop Further Ebola Spread!

The deadly Ebola virus is taking a toll on life in West Africa since January this year. This outbreak has been the most challenging to contain since the first outbreak in 1976 reported in Democratic Republic of Congo, which has taken 110 lives in Guinea and Liberia so far. There have been suspects in Mali and Sierra Leone where aid workers are trying hard to contain the further spread.

This tropical virus spreads through dead and decaying wild animals and particularly fruit bats. The World Health Organization has declared its fatality rates to be very high as 90%. It is transmitted through close contacts with infected people, via sweat, saliva, blood and feces. The early symptoms are muscle cramps, dehydration, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea. The characteristic feature here is hemorrhagic fever which leads to internal bleeding and in severe cases organ failures and ultimately collapse of body systems.

The Guinean health ministry in association with United Nations medical aid agency is setting up training staff at Guinea’s main hospital and other health facilities. WHO has set up awareness camps with 70 trained personnel who would educate people about the Ebola viral spread, and track patients affected across Conakry.

Other global aids have come from organizations like Action against Hunger, who are working towards better sanitation in Guinea by distributing chlorine and soaps to families and setting up hand washing facilities. UNICEF is working closely with WHO in Dakar, and spreading awareness through radio broadcasts, and television shows in numerous languages across West Africa. French Red Cross is working within southeastern Guinea, by treating and tracking down patients with Ebola symptoms. The Samaritan’s purse, is working to contain the very contagious virus by creating awareness campaigns.

Ebola virus has yet to develop a vaccine to cure. Doctors treat the patients for secondary infections like diarrhea by keeping them hydrated and keep a check on their rising body temperatures. Indentifying the symptoms and early treatment is desirable and can save lives.